Norco Will Take 650b to Production - Range 650
Norco will have at least two models in its range for 2013 with 650b (27.5-inch) wheels. The Range 650 was on display at Sea Otter and would have been ridden by Duncan Riffle had he been able to score his favorite tire in the 650b size. Riffle said the bike corners beautifully. Norco got the tire size on the right bike, as the Range is already a capable all-mountain machine with an appetite for park riding in the 26 inch size. With the larger 650b wheels and big 2.35 or 2.4 inch tires, it should have the rough-ground roll-over of a 29er, but with snappier acceleration and better cornering.
![2013 Norco prototype 650b Range]()
Product manager Dustan Sept said that the Range 650 will be ready for production for 2013, but there is no hard release date, as testing is still underway to fine-tune its geometry. On that note, Dustan was adamant that there is a correct geometry for each wheel diameter and that there is no way one can simply switch to bigger or smaller wheels and make a side-by-side comparison. The range 650 frame uses a 142/12mm through-axle in the rear, with post-mount brakes and it will have a dropper seatpost as standard equipment. ISCG 05 chainguide tabs are standard fare, athough the Range 650 will be shipped with a two-by-ten drivetrain with a bash guard. The pre-production Range 650 has 160 millimeters of wheel travel front and rear thanks to a reduced-travel RockShox Totem fork. The reduction was necessary to bring the bike to its correct bottom bracket height. Dedicated 650b forks, however, will be appearing from every major suspension maker for 2013 and nearly all wheel and tire makers are on board.
![Range 650 details]()
Will Norco's 650b Range gain traction among the sport's most capable riders? Only time will tell, but the loudest buzz in the Sea Otter pits was talk about the mid-sized wheel and how nearly everyone was bringing one out for 2013. We've only had good things to say about the 26er Range, so if it is true that the Range 650 is noticeably better, Norco will have one heck of an AM machine next season. Can't wait to throw a leg over one. - RC
Norco's Range 650 demonstrates that lessons learned from 29ers like offset seat tubes and direct-mount front derailleurs can be put to better use in a mid-sized wheel format. The Range 650 is positioned to use 650b wheels where they can do the most good - deliver maximum suspension travel and improved roll-over to the sport's most aggressive trail riders.
Product manager Dustan Sept said that the Range 650 will be ready for production for 2013, but there is no hard release date, as testing is still underway to fine-tune its geometry. On that note, Dustan was adamant that there is a correct geometry for each wheel diameter and that there is no way one can simply switch to bigger or smaller wheels and make a side-by-side comparison. The range 650 frame uses a 142/12mm through-axle in the rear, with post-mount brakes and it will have a dropper seatpost as standard equipment. ISCG 05 chainguide tabs are standard fare, athough the Range 650 will be shipped with a two-by-ten drivetrain with a bash guard. The pre-production Range 650 has 160 millimeters of wheel travel front and rear thanks to a reduced-travel RockShox Totem fork. The reduction was necessary to bring the bike to its correct bottom bracket height. Dedicated 650b forks, however, will be appearing from every major suspension maker for 2013 and nearly all wheel and tire makers are on board.
(clockwise) Norco reduced the travel of a 26-inch RockShox Totem fork to get the ride height correct and to balance the Range 650's wheel travel. Norco adapted the same FSR four-bar linkage to maintain smooth suspension action while braking and pedaling. A look down the Schwalbe 2.35 inch tire shows adequate tire clearance, the offset seat tube and direct-mount front derailleur.
Will Norco's 650b Range gain traction among the sport's most capable riders? Only time will tell, but the loudest buzz in the Sea Otter pits was talk about the mid-sized wheel and how nearly everyone was bringing one out for 2013. We've only had good things to say about the 26er Range, so if it is true that the Range 650 is noticeably better, Norco will have one heck of an AM machine next season. Can't wait to throw a leg over one. - RC
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Norco is a good brand , I don't get why people rip on it.
What's the point of 29" wheels then? For XC tracks with no bends?
For the area that I live in, there is sufficient variety of terrain and trails that there are times when my 29er will do a good job for a ride, but other spots where I'd be better suited with a 26er. But for most of my riding, I find the 650Bs give the best compromise between roll over ability and steering/acceleration for the trails I ride the most. In one particular city owned trail network, there are trails that favour a 29er with wide corners that you can ride, or banked turns that favour the big wheel's stability as you lean the bike over. But within a few kms of riding you might be into stuff that's so tight and twisty that you're over-steering turns or having to cut off the trail line suddenly to avoid trees or rocks because there's just no getting around the increased wheelbase length of the 29er and then you're wishing you'd brought something else.
Trying to build one bike that can do every riding discipline to a high standard is impossible. It will never be as good as a purpose built machine. You may ask why I am saying this. Well think of using a 26" mountain bike for every riding discipline.... you will be at a disadvantage when it comes to individual riding types(road, street, trials, 4X, XC, DH). The more we adventure out, find, and perfect these individual disciplines the better understand what works and doesnt(when it comes to standards and bike setup)
But when it comes to normal riding for fun, it is 99% to the rider, not even a specific trail. They say that a good rider can take any trail and ride it in several different ways, like making a sculpture from clay, just take it and form it any way he wants. The poor rider will complain that oh if he had this DH bike here he would ride down this steep, oh if i had less travel I could uphill that.
Being specific is good at work, but when it's time to play, it's better to loosen up... So buying a bike to suit certain trails? Buy something that seems cool...
#1. 4x/dirtjump hardtail
#2. XC bike
#3. Road bike
#4. DH bike
#5.freeride/mini dh bike
When the guy behind the eruption in 650B interest, Kirk Pacenti, started turning people onto this "new / old" wheel format, it was by calling it 650B (the wheel size) and not 27.5er (the inflated tire size). Some tire makers label the tires as 27.5 x something, but most do it as 650B. In terms of actual rim bead seat diameters... 26" mtb is 559mm, 650B is 584mm and 700C is 622mm. The old 27" size you probably are thinking of was 630mm.
1) Will it fit a 2.4 tire?
2) A 650b 2.4" tire is not a 29' 2.4 tire...so they will roll the same way. Different from 26" yes, but not as well as a 29".
2. No its not, but its larger in diameter than a 26 x 2.4 and the author of the article didn't say it would have the roll over ability of a 29 x 2.4 either. He just compared it to a 29er in general terms. And being someone who owns all three size formats of bikes, including running 29 x 2.4s, I haven't found anything I couldn't get over on a 650B that I could also on the 29er.
Out of interest, is this two models of the Range? Or is it two models in Norco's range of bikes?! Ie: Can we expect a 650b Sight also?
I'll be getting a Range 650 the second they come out, I believe the 650 will give me the perfect all mountain bike for the Shore and Squamish where I typically ride.
I love how people are so concerned about "another wheel standard". No is forcing you to buy one. Nothing you currently own will be rendered obsolete by the fact that companies are producing 650b bikes.
I find it more annoying that I cannot buy certain new forks because they only come with a tapered head tube and by 2 year old blur LT has a straight 11/8".
I also assume...no, know, that each of the people posting against 650b have not ridden a quality 5" trail bike with 650b wheels. You're loss.
i have one plastic like that in my demo 8 xD
Trying to rip off people by selling them old parts for top dollar !
Shame on you !
I showed your comment to Derek Westerlund from freeride Entertainment on our Wed. evening ride ,he is from BC, he told me that its an ongoing problem and gives a bad name to the rest of the canadian bike community.
Smart move Norco, long travel & 650, bring it!
and yes i would buy that
Or... you could just do as those of us who rode the 650B wave from the start did and build your own wheels around a fancy hubset (my first used Hope Pro2s) which might have axle-swapping options so you can keep the same wheels and run them in different forks and frames.
Not one for me.
So:
26" 160mm is the same as 29" with 140mm which is the same as 650B with 150mm.
So this bike is a 650B 160mm travel bike and should be on par with a 26" 170mm bike.
I guess this bike wasn't really designed for people who are happy with 26" wheels.
I'd like to see the guy rolling up to a trail they had never ridden before with 4 trail bikes with different sized wheels and when asked why so many bikes to hear the reply "Well I just was unsure what type of terrain it would be."
So essentially 28.25 already exists! You just have to work out what tire you need to put on a 700C rim to get that diameter.
As for 26.75" that also already exists they are called DH wheels. My 26" rim with a 2.6 Michelin DH tire comes out to a tad over 26.75" in diameter.